Do you know what I love about children photography? Why I love teaching middle schoolers? It’s because to be perfectly honest, sometimes I just get along better with kids than I do some adults. Seriously. The times when I’m standing at the door to my classroom greeting students or at a photography session, I genuinely feel like myself. More myself then I can be when I’m around people my own age. I think it’s because when you’re older and you’re around people your own age, or older, you’re expected to act a certain way. You know what I mean? It’s not always funny to make up strange voices or indulge in imagination while personifying inanimate objects… which yes, I do frequently. But with kids, I can be the weird, goofy person that I am, and they dig it.
What I love about being around the Meador family is that their son Brandon is a hoot. I mean a hoot! They have two little boys, Ethan and Brandon and the only reason I can’t proclaim that Ethan is a riot is solely because he can’t talk yet. In all seriousness, I am very excited for the day when the two brothers can communicate with each other because it will be the greatest little conversations. Brandon is six and Ethan is his new little brother (only a year old) and its so cute how he loves him. He calls him Bro Bro which he explained very clearly to me is because you double brother and then take off the ther and then the other ther. Obviously 🙂
Since Brandon is older than Ethan and grew up as an only child for a little while, he is very astute. He loves to chat and is honest about how he feels. When we got to Belle Isle and had to cross the hanging bridge, he stated very clearly that he didn’t want to because he was scared, understandable I mean it’s a hanging bridge… how many experiences could he have had with one in his six years of life. So we talked about it and that worse comes to worse, I used to be a lifeguard so I’ll save him, which surprisingly did the trick (haha). On the way back after the session he said to me “You know what, I’m not going to be afraid of the bridge anymore because it wasn’t so bad!” I just love this about kids, one minute they can be scared and nervous and the next, it’s all good. I’m betting my parents wish this was the case with me and needles… still haven’t shook this phobia.
The Meadors are the greatest, good sports, beautiful smiles and lots of fun. Scott keeps it real and keeps me laughing the whole time. Mindy is sweet and gentle with her two boys and I know the combination of the two parents will amount to two boys who are sweet with good heads on their shoulders. Brandon is observant and sweet, and Ethan, well I’m still figuring him out but he seems curious. Even though he hung by his parents and was nervous to be alone, within the safety of their arms, he looked to be absorbing everything around him, thinking and wondering.
Mindy and Scott, thanks for setting this up, I had a blast and even though it was hot, you guys were great! Hope you enjoy some of my favorites from the session!